Now, I am the laziest moo on earth so when I saw this idea in a book and it had only one ingredient I thought 'that's my kind of baking'. Like all of these things though, unless you are Nigella, you're not going to have all the bits and pieces you need to just knock up some lollies so here's the equipment list:
Equipment
2x lolly moulds (make 4 lollies/mould) - you need the moulds with the space for the stick like these
- Chocolate lolly sticks - good supplier here
- A roll of florist's cellophane (I always have a few of these with different patterns on)
- Scissors
- Thin ribbon or even string
- Small saucepan
- Pyrex/ceramic bowl to sit over pan
- Approx 300 grams of chocolate (1.5 bars)
Instructions
Step 1: very lighly greese the moulds with sunflower or vegetable oil and place them on a flat surface
Step 2: Melt the chocolate gently over a pan - the chocolate should retain its glossy appearance
Step 3: Pour chocolate carefully into the moulds - it doesn't matter if the chocolate over fills, you just need to be careful not to spill the chocolate into the area where the stick will sit. Smooth chocolate gently with the back of a spoon
Step 4: Make sure your hands are chocolate free (I made that mistake!!) and then insert the sticks into the mould
Step 5: Leave to set for a good couple of hours. My kitchen is so cold that I leave them out on the side!
Step 6: Once fully set, gently tease the lollies out of the mould (should be very easy)Step 7: Cut approx 20x20cm squares of cellophane (doesn't have to be neat at all) and wrap around the lolly
Step 8: Cut a length of ribbon (approx 30cm) and secure the cellophane around the lolly
Voila, here you have some lollies that look really professional, are handmade and make a fab gift!
The great thing about these is that on Valentine's day you can make heart/cupid-shaped lollies, and at Easter you can make easter bunny lollies. You can pretty much buy any mould for any occassion. So go on, give it a go!!
For more thrifty Christmas hints and tips take at look at this great article written by none other than Mrs Thrifty herself:
